Healthcare in the Middle Ages

The Medieval age is often given a bad rap for its steep superstitious beliefs and outright shunning of new ideas by the establishment. Although science and health were commonly associated with spirituality such as the connection of the human body to the stars (ie. astrology) during those times, there were other more practical methods in curing simple to complicated illnesses using the humblest forms of creation – plants.

Herbalism was common in the Middle Ages, doctors, monks and commoners were using these medicinal properties of plants effectively; a practice that has been recorded during the time of the earlier civilizations such as the Sumerians, Egyptians, Indians, Greeks, Romans and later from the Arabs. During the Crusades interaction with the Arabs help open the west for new scientific ideas in medicine. These ideas were not entirely brand new as mentioned but the Islamic caliphates’ spread helped distribute this science farther  made a great deal to study and improve them.

The new scientific methods and healthcare was indeed revolutionary when it reached Europe and sooner had their own specialists and professional doctors. During the crusades the Church formed an order specialized in providing medical aid for the sick and wounded. This was the Knights Hospitallers, also called the Order of St. John. While their mission was aimed at nursing the diseased and the impoverished, they were more than capable of fighting themselves. These militarized order of surgeons, physicians, nurses and nuns acted as support groups for soldiers and pilgrims in the Holy Land and developed ‘siege medicine’. In the modern man’s eyes these Hospitallers might come as combat medics with mobile emergency rooms. They also established Holy Infirmaries that paved the way for modern nursing and ethics for the humane treatment of patients including those of mental defects which were earlier believed to be possessed by demons.Knights Hospitallers and Hospitaller nuns from the Order of St. John an order that still exist to this day.A museum model of a Hospitaller during the crusades treating an injured man. The Order’s hospitals in Jerusalem treated the sick and wounded without distinction of race and religion.Some 900 years later in the crypt of St. John’s church. Here nurses are giving aid for children. Image Credit: Museum of the Order of St. John Poster of St. John nurses treating an injured soldier in one of the costliest wars in history, the First World War. Image Credit: Museum of the Order of St. JohnSt. John Ambulance Youth group poster from the 1950′s. Image Credit: Museum of the Order of St. JohnSt. John Ambulance Youth Group in present-day Uganda. Image Credit: Museum of the Order of St. John

——————————————————————————————–

Medieval herbalism and several examples of medicinal plants. (Note:  some of these plants were not used by Europeans although the practice dates or pre-dates the Medieval period.)Monks mixing herbs and measuring medicine.

Bishopwort - Originally planted in churchyards to prevent ghostly activities, bad dreams and sorcery. Medicinal remedy range from liver problems, gallstones, arthritis, gout, high-blood, and snake bites. Ointment can be used against wounds and sores.

Radish - Farmed in Europe before the arrival of the Romans, radish juice is known to lower blood pressure, and has cleansing agents for the blood, digestive system and liver.

Garlic - “Stinky Rose” was not only to ward off vampires, garlic vitalizes the blood and serves as a laxative. Prevents high cholesterol, heart disease. It also has antibiotic qualities.Herbal studies written and illustrated by monks preserved in monasteries 11th century.

St. John’s Wort - Used to be hanged around doors to ward off evil spirits, this herb was also believed to treat madness. Today it is commonly used as an anti-depressant and cure for muscle spasms. A reserch done by the National Cancer Institute believe St. John’s wort has a potential as cancer-fighting drug. (cite TLC Family “St. John’s Wort: Herbal Remedies”)

Saw palmetto extract - Native Americans used this as antiseptic and is also credited for curing urinary problems and baldness.

A couple of illustrations from the 12th century.

Chaulmoogra Oil - Used to treat leprosy and was proven when lepers confined in Moloka Hawaii, then called,“Land of the Living Death” were cured. Indians and Chinese have been using them for hundreds of years earlier. It only reached the west in the 19th century.

Willow - Leaves and bark of the Willow tree have been used as headache, stomachache, and other body pain reliever.

Helenium/Elecampane - Roots are used as tonic to cure respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis. Also helps digestion, and antiseptic.

Leeks - They are garlic-like plants resembling scallions. Serves as laxatives, good blood circulation avoiding stroke and cholesterol.

—————————————————————————————Not-so-comforting attire of ‘beaked doctors’.

Plague Doctors

The plague doctor’s creepy looking uniform was born out of necessity and somewhat an attempt at humorous art resembling bird-like appearance during the pandemic called the Black Death. The “beak” was somewhat do distance themselves from their patients while in the insides were filled with herbs, fragrant flowers and perfumes to mask the smell of an environment surrounded by rotting disease and death.

Their ranks were mostly made up of inexperienced doctors probably because they saw that there was no use in paying for expensive physicians  who were just as invain in curing the plague that ravaged Europe for some 300 years. They had to rely for gustsy volunteers and doctors eager to prove themselves or people in dire of monetary reward for that. (See: Plague Doctor Contract )

Black Death: Bubonic Plague Statistics

25 million people died in just under five years between 1347 and 1352. Estimated population of Europe from 1000 to 1352. (Source:  38 million1100 48 million1200 59 million1300 70 million1347 75 million1352 50 million

Notable Plague doctors for their bravery, innovations and contributions were:

Michel de Nostradame ”Nostradamus“ 

Nellanus Glacanus

Giovanni de Ventura ”Doctor for Hire”

Philip von Hohenheim“Paracelsus”

Guy de Chauliac - Fought the idea that the plague was not because of heretics and Jews and avoid them being targetted.

John Paulitious - The first plague doctor of Edinburgh; succumb to illness.

Dr. George Rae - Replaced John Paulitious and worked, promised to be paid large sum. Employers confident he would not survive the plague, but he did and spent a decade asking for his reward.)

Doktor Schnabel von Rom “Doctor Beak from Rome”

John Ardene - One of the “Fathers of Surgery”. Famous for using anesthetics and charging rich people as much as they could but offered free services for the poor.